Portable burning apparatus



p 1965 G. L. HILLMAN 3,207,103

PORTABLE BURNING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 15, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG.I

IN VEN TOR.

650205 lam/7671mm p 21, 1965 e. L. HILLMAN 3,207,103

I PORTABLE BURNING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 13, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fl G. 4

F I G. 3

INVENTOR GzMaHflrmfl/uMA/v BY WWYW AGENT United States Patent 2,207,103 PORTABLE BURNING APPARATUS George Lester Hillman, 72 Hardy Place, Yonkers, NY. Filed Nov. 13, 1962, Ser. No. 236,968 Claims. (Cl. 11018) This invention relates to a burning apparatus and more specifically relates to portable, readily storable equipment which can be employed around the home for disposing by burning of combustible materials.

Organic material such as leaves, cut grass, and flower stalks accumulate in quantities as a result of gardening activities, and disposal of this material becomes a problem. Burning of the material is a method commonly employed for elimination of such gardening refuse. Burning means employed for such purpose take the form of circular containers made of wire mesh or just as commonly, the organic refuse is allowed to accumulate in a pile on the ground and when thoroughly dry is ignited. The latter method results in an unsightly accumulation of charred remains which results from the incomplete burning which is theproduct of an inadequate supply of air. The circular containers first mentioned, though possessing better burning ability, lack a suflicient exposure area to the air needed for combustion and therefore leaves an unburned residue of relatively large volume. Althougth apparatus of this nature could be adapted to provide a greater area for burning, a fundamental disadvantage would result in that the apparatus would become difficult to store. Having stated the present status of the art and the disadvantages of the present means of garden waste disposal, the advantages and objects of the present invention can be recited.

The invention herein described has as a fundamental purpose and object the provision of equipment which provide an extended burning area While still having the property of being easily transportable and storable.

A second object is to provide burning apparatus having provisions for adequate combustion of organic material to provide thereby a minimum residual ash and further to provide means whereby the small residue, remaining after combustion is complete, is retained in an easily transportable and disposable form.

The subject invention will hereinafter be described and illustrated by reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiments of the burning apparatus.

FIG. 1 illustrates in an isometric view one form of the burning apparatus.

FIG. 2 illustrates in an elevation view a slightly modified form of the burning apparatus.

FIG. 3 illustrates a plan view of the burning apparatus of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the S-shaped hook used for attaching the grid to the tubular members.

Referring now to FIG. 1, two tubular members indicated on the drawing as 1 and 2 are shown. It can be seen that the tubular members describe substantially a U shape. For better definition of the drawing, the tubular members of FIGURE 1 forming the U shape are further designated by the number 3 designating the base of the U and 4 designating the arm of the U. It will be understood that 3 and 4 are integral and compositely form the tubular member 1.

Tubular member 2 similarly consists of a base portion 5 and an arm 6 integral with each other. It can be seen that tubular members 1 and 2 intersect at their bases 3 and 5 and are secured at their point of intersection by a pin 7 which traverses both 3 and 5 through a circular opening in both these members. Pin 7 is loosely secured in this opening thus enabling tubular members 1 and 2 to rotate with the pin as a fulcrum. Pin 7 can take the form of any fastening device which is loosely secured in the openings of the tubular members 1 and 2, thereby allowing rotation of these members. Such devices could be a bolt and nut or a pin and cotter. In the illustrated embodiment a pin is shown which has both ends upset to form a portion of the pin of a diameter larger than the openings in the bases 3 and 5. In this manner, the pin will be restrained from slipping through the openings in the base portion 3 and 5 of the tubular members 1 and 2.

To the upright arms 4 and 6 are attached a grid 8 consisting of intermeshing wires of small diameter. The grid may take the form of screen, or other wire mesh material such as the fencing commonly known in the trade as chicken wire. The only prerequisite being that the openings between the wire are large relative to the diameter of the wires and that the greatest possible unobstructed area is left available for the free flow of air to the material burning on the grid. A second prerequisite is to allow a large mesh opening between the wires in order that burned material may readily fall through the openings. The grid is fastened to the arms 4 and 6 of the tubular members 1 and 2 by means of hooks or other readily detachable means.

A second grid 9 is located under grid 8 and between that member and the base members 3 and 5 in a position to receive burnt material dropping through the openings in grid 8. The primary function of grid 9 is to serve to receive the burnt material from grid 8. The wires making up the grid are consequently closely spaced to serve this function and small openings of the order of a sixteenth of an inch are preferred. Screening such as employed in making window screens for preventing the entry of insects into a house is an example of a material that can be employed for grid 9. An impervious material such as thin sheet metal could also be employed, but the fine mesh screen is preferred because of its flexibility and the consequent ease of storing this material. Grid 9 is attached to the arms 4 and 6 of tubular members 1 and 2 by means of a hook or other similar easily detachable devises.

In operation, assuming the burning apparatus is in the storable or collapsed position, the tubular members are opened by rotating these members around pin 7 until the base members 3 and 5 are roughly at right angles to each other. The grid 9 is then hooked to the tubular members 1 and 2 at the four arms and grid 8 is then attached in a similar manner. The tubular members 1 and 2 are prevented from rotating by reason of the two grids. The material to be burned is placed on the grid 8 and due to the large burning area provided and the unobstructed flow of air provided for the burning, material burns to .a fine ash which drops into the grid 9 and is retained therein. The burning apparatus is readily collapsible to fit into a small area after the burning function is completed.

The burning apparatus of FIGURE 2, wherein an elevational view is illustrated, is a modified form adaptable for easy storage. The base members 10, 11, 12, 13 are tubular in construction and have an integral angular extension at their non-joining end. The angular extensions are designated as 14, 15, 16 and 17. As stated previously, the extensions are preferably integral with the base members and are given an identifying number different than the base members for purposes of explanation of the drawing and identification.

A dowel 18 preferably of wood is inserted into the open end of the angular extension 17. A portion of the dowel 18 protrudes from the open end of the angular extension, and a short length of a straight tubular member 19 is fitted over the protruding end of the dowel. The dowel 18 fits snugly into the angular extension 17 and the straight tubular member 19. The effective length of the composite arm comprising the angular extension 17 and the straight tubular member 19 held together by 7the dowel 18 becomes sufficient to hold a grid containing material to be burned at a distance from the base members and the ground. The composite arm can be easily dismantled into its individual easily storable components by simply removing the dowel 18. It should be realized that the dowel may be made of any rigid material such as metals, plastics or hard rubber, as examples. Wood is selected as a preferable material because of its ready availability for replacement if a dowel is lost and secondly because it can be readily wedged in and removed from the tubular members. If a harder material such as a metal is employed, it is preferred that the dowel be slightly tapered from the center toward both ends.

For purposes of illustration, the base member 13 along with the angular extension 17 integral with this member have been selected. I It will be understood that the angular extensions 14, 15 and 16 are similarly extended and constructed in the manner show-n for the base member 13, the angular extension 17 and the straight tubular member 19. The other arms are, however, shown in FIGURE 2 in their joined position.

The base members 10, 11, 12 and 13 are joined at an end to two plate members and 21. Each of the two plate members have eight holes for bolts or other pin type securing members positioned on the plate members in like patterns and positions. In this manner when one plate is positioned over the other plate, the corresponding holes in each plate are aligned with respect to each other. The holes are preferably grouped in pairs with two pairs on one of the diagonals of the plate and the other two pairs on the intersecting diagonal of the plates. Two holes are provided in the ends of each of the base members to align with two of the holes in the plate members. The eight bolts are preferably secured by the screwing of nuts on the threaded ends. It should be noted that the invention has been illustrated in FIGURE 2 employing two plates securing the base members. The use of the two plate members is preferred for purposes of rigidity. It is, however, possible to employ a single plate member with some slight sacrifice of rigidity. With this modification which is not illustrated in the drawings, the bolts simply pass through the single plate and base members.

The upper grid 23 is composed of intermeshing wires of small diameter. The grid 23 is preferably secured to the four straight tubular members of which 19 is representative by means of small S-shaped hooks which engage detachably the grid and the straight tubular members. A hook 27 engaged to a tubular member 19 is representative of the method of attachment of the grid 23. A second grid 24 is mounted below the grid 23. Grid 24 is composed of intermeshing wires which have substantially smaller mesh openings than the grid 23 and thereby retain burned material passing through grid 23.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the burning apparatus of FIGURE 2 revealing the details of the arrangement of the flat plate 20 and the bolts a, b, c, d and 26a, b, c, d. The grids 23 and 24 have been removed in FIGURE 3 in order to better illustrate the base details.

When the unit is to be dismantled, bolts 26a and 26b are removed wherein the base members 11 and 13 may swing around 25a and 25b as f-ulcrums to a collapsed position. Base members 10 and 12 are made to fold by removing inner bolts 25c and 25d and allowing these base members to pivot on bolts 26c and 26d. By this novel arrangement of bolts the base members fold into a position where all base members are parallel and easily storable.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the S-shaped hook 27 attaching the grid 23 to tubular members 19 shown in FIGURE 2.

It may be desirable in some cases to modify the apparatus as presently illustrated in FIGURES l, 2, and 3.

As an example in FIGURE 1, the base members are shown as slightly flattened at the point of intersection in order to prevent rocking of the apparatus when it rests on a flat surface. It can be seen that in this manner the base members are contained more nearly in a single plane. Alternately, it may be desirable to provide a slight bow to each of the base members of FIGURE 1 in order that only two points of each base member contact the plane on which the burning apparatus is resting. Essentially then the burning apparatus would rest on four points. The fact then that the base members do not intersect in a common plane would be immaterial to the stability of the apparatus, since all points of the base would be elevated above the plane on which the apparatus rests with the exception of the four points described. The foregoing modification although not illustrated is a part of the present invention. It will be realized that other slight modifications of form are possible which do not bear description because of their minor nature and infinite variety. However, the scope of the invention is defined in the attached claims.

Iclaim:

1. Burning apparatus comprising tubular members having substantially a U shape wherein the base of said U shape is essentially straight and the arms of said U shape project slightly obliquely from said base, said tubular members further having a point of intersection along their bases, a securing pin connecting said tubular members at said intersection to form a pivot point about which said members are revolvable, a first grid of wire members attached near the periphery of the grid to the upper ends of the arms of said tubular members and a second grid of wire members closer spaced than said wires forming said first grid, said second grid depending peripherally on the arms of said tubular members at intermediate point-s between the base and the first grid.

2. Burning apparatus comprising two tubular members having substantially a U shape wherein the base of said U shape is essentially straight and the arms of said U shape project slightly obliquely from said base, said two tubular members further having a point of intersection along their bases, a securing pin connecting said tubular members at said intersection to form a pivot point about which said members are revolvable, a first grid of wire members attached near the periphery of the grid to the upper ends of the arms of said tubular members and a second grid of wire members closer spaced than said Wires forming said first grid, said second grid depending peripherally on the arms of said two tubular members at intermediate points between the base and the first grid.

3. Burning apparatus comprising two tubular members having substantially a U shape wherein the base of said U shape is essentially straight and the arms of said U shape project slightly obliquely from said base, said two tubular members further having a point of intersection along their bases at substantially the midpoint of said bases, a securing pin connect-ing said tubular members at said intersection to form a pivot point about which said members are revolvable, a first grid of wire members depending detachably near the periphery of the grid to the upper ends of the arms of said tubular members and a second grid of wire members closer spaced than said wires forming said first grid, said second grid depending peripherally and detachably on the arms of said two tubular members at intermediate points between the base and the first grid.

4. Burning apparatus comprising four tubular members each bent at an intermediate point to form two arms obliquely inclined with respect to each other, a fiat plate member rotatably securing an end of one of said arms of each tubular member, removable means for locking said arms to said plate, a first grid of spaced wire members secured detachably near the periphery of the grid to the unsecured ends of the arms, and a second grid of spaced wire members secured detachably near the periphery of the second grid to the arms of said tubular members at points on said arms intermediate between the bent portion of the tubular member and the first grid, the wire members of the second grid being closer to each other than those of said first grid.

5. Burning apparatus comprising four tubular members each bent at an intermediate point to form two arms obliquely inclined with respect to each other, two spaced flat plate members rotatably securing between said plate members an end of one of said arms of each tubular member, removable means including bolts passing through said plate members and through said arms for locking said arms to said plates, a first grid of "spaced W-ire members secured detachably near the periphery of the grid to the unsecured ends of the arms, and a second grid of spaced wire members secured detachably near the periphery of the second grid to the extended arms of said tubular members at points on said arms intermediate between the bent portion of the tubular member and the first grid, the wire members of the second grid being closer to each other than those of said first grid.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 641,245 1/00 Sugg 1 5049 2,768,022 10/56 Pope 126-224 X FOREIGN PATENTS 472,239 3 /5 1 Canada.

5 FREDERICK L. MATTESON, JR., Primary Examiner.

JAMES W. WESTHAV-ER, Examiner. 

1. BURNING APPARATUS COMPRISING TUBULAR MEMBERS HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY A U SHAPE WHEREIN THE BASE OF SAID U SHAPE IS ESSENTIALLY STRAIGHT AND THE ARMS OF SAID U SHAPE PROJECT SLIGHTLY OBLIQUELY FROM SAID BASE, SAID TUBULAR MEMBERS FURTHER HAVING A POINT OF INTERSECTION ALONG THEIR BASES, A SECURING PIN CONNECTING SAID TUBULAR MEMBERS AT SAID INTERSECTION TO FORM A PIVOT POINT ABOUT WHICH SAID MEMBERS ARE REVOLVABLE, A FIRST GRID OF WIRE MEMBERS ATTACHED NEAR THE PERIPHERY OF THE GRID TO THE UPPER ENDS OF THE ARMS OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBERS AND A SECOND GRID OF WIRE MEMBERS CLOSER SPACED THAN SAID WIRES FORMING SAID FIRST GRID, SAID SECOND GRID DEPENDING PERIPHERALLY ON THE ARMS OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBERS AT INTERMEDIATE POINTS BETWEEN THE BASE AND THE FIRST GRID. 